The Big Book of Superheroes

By Bart King

This entertaining guide to being a superhero covers everything from costumes and superpowers to knowing right vs wrong—with illustrations, games, and more!
 
Bart King—author of The Big Book of Girl Stuff, The Big Book of Gross Stuff, and Dad Jokes—reveals himself as one of the world’s most in-demand superhero experts. So if you’re wondering if you have what it takes to be a superhero—of course you do! All you need is a burning desire to fight evildoers. Oh, and also a secret identity, the perfect name, a cool costume, some terrific superpowers, and an archenemy. Actually, you know what? You better get this book!
 
Full of illustrations, activities, and pop up quizzes, The Big Book of Superheroes covers topics ranging from The Top 10 Lamest Superpowers to The Top 6 Tips for Parents of a Superhero.
 
“Filled with enough superhero information to keep a middle grader's nose between the pages for hours...it's entertaining on every page."—Kid Lit Reviews

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Feb 12, 2014
• ISBN: 9781423633983

Bart King

Bart King has written more than twenty-eight books, including The Big Book of Boy Stuff, The Big Book of Spy Stuff, and The Pocket Guide to Mischief. His books for Gibbs Smith have sold more than 830,000 copies combined. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

Book preview

The Big Book of Superheroes

Bart King

Illustrations by Greg Paprocki

Gibbs Smith Logo

The Big Book of Superheroes

Digital Edition 1.0

Text © 2014 Bart King

Illustrations © Greg Paprocki

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means whatsoever without written permission from the publisher, except brief portions quoted for purpose of review.

This book refers to a number of superhero-related names, words, and character designations. These references are for identification only. All designations belong to the proper holders of their trademarks. Further, this book is not an official publication for any superheroes (except the ones I made up!).

Also, while reading the following pages, you may decide to fly through outer space to battle the Menace of Kendor. That’s great, but I can’t and don’t guarantee your safety as you engage in any of this book’s activities. In fact, I expressly disclaim liability for any injury, damages, or fatalities resulting from the use of this book. So read it at your own risk.

But I’m sure you’ll probably be fine, just fine—hey, look out for that tractor beam!

Gibbs Smith

P.O. Box 667

Layton, Utah 84041

Orders: 1.800.835.4993

www.gibbs-smith.com

ISBN: 978-1-4236-3398-3

This book is dedicated to the greatest superheroes I’ve ever known: My parents, Janet and Michael King

The Big Book of Superheroes

Table of Contents

Welcome to the World of Superheroes! Superpowers! Acting Like a Superhero! Becoming a Superhero! Letting Your Parents Know! Superhero Training! Fighting Like a Superhero! Zingers and Battle Cries—Speaking Superhero! Rugrats—Your Most Dangerous Foe! The Lamest—and Most Underrated—Superpowers! Your Supername! Dress Like a Superhero! What’s This Right vs. Wrong Stuff?! Supervillains and Other Ethically Challenged People! The Supervillain Halls of Shame and Fame! Super Sidekicks! Animal Superheroes! Secret Lairs! Superhero Teams! The End Is Near! Super Pop Quiz! Appendix: Early Superhero History! Selected Bibliography Answer Key Acknowledgments

Welcome to the World of Superheroes!

I have good news. By reading these words, you just became an honorary superhero. Yay!

But maybe you’re wondering, "What is a superhero, anyway?" It’s simple—a superhero is anyone who wants to fight evildoers and right wrongs. These could be small wrongs, like:

Who used up all the toilet paper?

Or it might be a big wrong, like:

Who used up all of the toilet paper in the Secret Lair?

Of course, you can do things your way. Instead of fighting evildoers, you might want to argue with them. (I’m pretty sure this isn’t as successful, though.)

Comic of a bank robbery

Some people say that any good-hearted outsider is a superhero. (So that could include everyone from Luke Skywalker to Daffy Duck.) But however you think of it, being a superhero can be hard. Your superpowers might spin out of control. Supervillains want to clobber you. And even nice people can grow jealous of all the attention you get.

Plus, take it from me: it’s easy to get a wedgie in a superhero costume!

Superheroes got their starts in our imaginations. See, in ancient times, people told stories about gods, heroes, monsters, and villains. And many of these characters have been recycled into superheroes. For example, Thor was taken right out of Viking mythology. And when the Flash appeared, his costume was a total copy of Hermes’ (a.k.a. Mercury), the speedy messenger of the Greek gods.

The Very First Hero Was a Girl: Ancient Greek myths tell of Hero, a girl who tragically drowned. Hey, too bad that Hero didn’t have the superpower of immortality. She’d have lived, and Hero worship might have been popular!

Some of our superheroes combine different mythical figures. For example, Captain Marvel was a popular superhero in the 1940s. His secret identity was as a boy named Billy Batson. And when Billy said SHAZAM! he transformed into Captain Marvel, a crime fighter with the powers of heroes and gods:

Another hero with origins in myth is the Amazon warrior called Wonder Woman. She’s stronger than Hercules and swifter than Mercury, and her archenemy is Mars, the god of war. Unlike the ancient Greeks, Wonder Woman flies around in an invisible jet. (Although cool, this does raise the risk of midair collisions!)

Are there any mythological characters who are actual superheroes? Maybe! For instance, Hercules usually did the right thing. He also had superstrength and wore a special costume. (It was the impenetrable hide of the Nemean lion.)

But superheroes usually have secret identities—for example, Batman’s secret identity is Bruce Wayne. And as a wise man once said, Hercules was always Hercules.

It Took a While to Catch On: People didn’t actually start using the word superhero until the 1940s.

Their backgrounds are in myths, but almost all of today’s famous superheroes got their start in comic books. One exception is the Green Hornet, who first appeared in a radio show back in 1936. Another one is the superhero family known as the Incredibles: Elastigirl, Violet, Dash, Jack-Jack, and Mr. Incredible all got their starts at the movies.

Before we go any further, I need to warn you about something: being a superhero is awesome, but there are a few drawbacks. Here are some now!

The Five Most Embarrassing Things That Can Happen to a Superhero

Your sidekick pees his pants.

Just as you start battling a supervillain, your mom calls out, I love you, honey!

You come out of the bathroom with your cape stuck down the back of your underwear.

Comic of your cape stuck down the back of your underwear.

You fly over your school (Hurray!), then get motion sickness and barf on your friends (Boo!).

You show up at a crime scene wearing the same costume as another superhero. (Awk-ward!)

But Why Be a Superhero?

What, fighting evil isn’t enough for you? Fine. If you’ve ever thought you were meant for better things, become a superhero. If you’ve ever felt misunderstood by the world, become a superhero. If you’ve ever wanted to strike a blow for justice, become a superhero.

Or if you’ve ever just felt like wearing your underpants on the outside—become a superhero!

Still not enough to convince you? How about this: being a superhero will make you happier! Most people work for power, money, or fame. But experts think the happiest people are the ones whose jobs have meaning. And what could be more meaningful than saving the world?

And while you’re thinking about that, think about this: how many superheroes actually quit, and go back to living normal lives?

Almost none.

And finally, just between us—remember, this is a secret—becoming a superhero is a great way to get payback. Did someone trip you in the hallway last year? Let’s see how he likes dangling from a skyscraper. Or how about that kid who made faces at you on the bus? He might find himself dropped off at your zoo’s Monkey Island if he’s not careful!

As a certain superhero once said: "As Peter Parker, I was just a helpless, confused kid! But as Spider-Man, things are gonna be a lot different!"

The more you know, the less you don’t! During World War II, a superhero named Miss Victory fought the Nazis. One of her best lines was, Heil your grandmother!

Why Am I the Right Person to Write This Book?

Look, I don’t want to brag, but I’m a superhero. In fact, I’m wearing a colorful costume while I’m typing this. Ooh, hang on—I’ve got trouble!

*shifts in chair*

Whew, that was a close call. (I told you it’s easy to get a wedgie in these things.)

I admit that I’m not the greatest American superhero. But at least I’m better than lame heroes like Fraction Man and his sidekick, Decimal Girl. In fact, I’m better than any of...

The Nine Most Unhelpful Superheroes!

Comic of Unhelpful Hero Hall of Fame.

Unhelpful Hero Hall of Fame: Rock Gal!

Superpowers!

Hey, did you know you already have a superpower? No? Then it sounds like we need to work on your self-esteem.

So imagine you were reading this sentence six hundred years ago. That would’ve been a superpower. No, not because you traveled through time. It’s because six hundred years ago, almost nobody could read!

And anytime you can do something most people can’t, that’s your superpower. For example, I can brush my teeth with either hand. Not bad, huh? And I bet you have unusual skills too.

Comic of different powers.

So are you feeling better about yourself? Good! Now let’s see about getting you another superpower. After all, it’ll make fighting crime a lot easier. And having a superpower doesn’t hurt—unless you have the power to feel pain better than anyone else. Then having a superpower would hurt. A lot!

Pop Quiz

The Superpower King!

This character has more superpowers than any other superhero. He is:

Superman

J’onn J’onzz, the Martian Manhunter

Spider-Man

(See answer below.[¹])

Not Very Amazing Fact! You may be wondering how to pronounce a crazy Martian name like J’onn J’onzz. Well, it sounds like this: John Jones. (Yeah. Real crazy.)

Now keep in mind that even good superpowers can have drawbacks. Look at the Thing. Sure, he has superstrength, but it came at a cost—the Thing looks like a pile of bricks!

As Spider-Man once said: "My powers! What a joke! I sometimes think they’ve proven to be nothing but a curse!"

What was he talking about? To find out, take a look at the pros and cons of—

The Fifteen Most Popular Superpowers!

At this year’s Comic-Con, I asked hundreds of people what superpowers they wanted most—and these were their top picks!

1. Superstrength

Comic of a boy and superhero.

Superstrength: You Already Have It!

One of my favorite superheroes is Asterix the Gaul. He lived in the time of the ancient Roman Empire. Before going into battle, Asterix drinks a magic potion created by a druid named Vitamix. This gives Asterix the power to defeat the Roman soldiers. (They were meanies!)

You actually have something like Vitamix’s magic potion in your body. Really! That’s why news stories like this come out all the time:

Tracy Boggins, 17, was making sandwiches when she heard a cry from the garage. There, she discovered her father being crushed beneath the family’s minivan. (He was changing the van’s oil when it slipped off its car jack.) The teenaged girl then grabbed the edge of the car and lifted it enough for her father to escape.

So isn’t it impossible for a teenaged girl to lift a car? No! Humans can lift about seven times their own body weight if they have to.

Most of us never try using our superstrength for two reasons: First, we don’t think we can lift very much weight. And second, we’re afraid of injuring ourselves. But all that changes in an emergency. Then you don’t have time to think, I’d lift this van, but I probably can’t and I might break a nail. You just do it!

In an emergency, your body releases a hormone called adrenaline. This increases your rates of blood circulation and breathing. So your muscles get an extra boost, and you’re stronger! (This is sometimes called the fight-or-flight response.)

At the same time, your body releases other things into your bloodstream, including substances called endorphins. These squelch pain and make you feel good. So endorphins allow you to try harder than you normally would.

What kind of crises can give you this amazing strength? Sadly, they are very rare. So if you’re squeezing out the last bit of toothpaste from a tube, see if the danger of a cavity makes you mighty!

Adrenaline and endorphins kick in when our friends or family are in peril. For instance, if you see innocent animals in a death trap like this, your hormones will spring into action!

Comic of adrenaline rush.

Reviews for The Big Book of Superheroes

[alison · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Like it, nice book it is.i really like the book

[Vince Razionale · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

It was so dumb that I barfed a lot lot.

[Kabelo Mmono · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Its very good I loved the book very much bye guys